स्वागतेनाभिसंपूज्य तस्थौ योगरतो हरः
Welcoming her with hospitality, Hara, devoted to yoga, remained there.
ववन्दे चरणौ शौवौ सखीभिः सह भामिनी
The radiant lady, together with her companions, bowed to his noble feet.
न युक्तं चैवमुक्त्वाथ सगणो ऽन्तर्दधे ततः
Then, having said 'This is not proper,' he vanished along with his attendants.
अन्तर्दुःखेन दह्यन्ती पितरं प्राह पार्वती
Burning with inner sorrow, Pārvatī spoke to her father.
आराधनाय देवस्य शङ्करस्य पिनाकिनः
For the worship of the god Śaṅkara, the wielder of the bow.
ललिताख्या तपस्तेपे हराराधनाकाम्यया
She, called Lalitā, undertook austerities desiring to worship Hara.
समित्कुशफलं चापि मूलाहरणमादितः
She began by gathering sacred sticks, grass, fruits, and roots.
कृतस्तु तेजसा युक्तो भद्रमस्त्विति साब्रवीत्
Having performed the rite, endowed with energy, she said, 'May there be well-being.'
ततो ऽस्यास्तुष्टिमगमच्छ्रद्धया त्रिपुरान्तकृत्
Then Tripurāntaka, with faith, became pleased with her.
यज्ञोपवीती छत्री च मृगाजिनधरस्तथा
Wearing the sacred thread, carrying an umbrella, and clad in a deerskin as well.
प्रत्याश्रमं पर्यटन् स तं काल्याश्रममागतः
Wandering from hermitage to hermitage, he came to Kālī's hermitage.
पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं पर्यपृच्छदिदं ततः
Having worshipped her according to custom, he then asked this:
क्व च त्वं प्रतिगन्तासि मम शीघ्रं निवेदय
Where and when will you depart? Quickly tell me.
अथातस्तीर्थयात्रायां गमिष्यामि पृथूदकम्
Now, for the pilgrimage, I will go to Pṛthūdaka.
पथि स्नानेन च फलं केषु किं लब्दवानसि
By bathing on the way, in which places, what merit have you obtained?
ततो ऽथ तीर्थे कुब्जाम्रे जयन्ते चण्डिकेश्वरे
Then, at the holy place Kubjāmra and at Jayanta Caṇḍikeśvara.
सरस्वत्यामग्निकुण्डे भद्रायां तु त्रिविष्टपे
On the Sarasvati, at the fire altar, and at Bhadra in the heavenly realm,
निथ्कामेन कृतं स्नानं ततो ऽभ्यागां तवाश्रमम्
I performed a bath there, without desire, and then I came to your hermitage.
पृच्छामि यदहं त्वां वै तत्र न क्रोद्धुमर्हसि
I wish to ask you something; do not be angry with me for that.
बाल्ये ऽपि संयततनुस्तत्तु श्लाघ्यं द्विजन्मनाम्
Even in childhood, self-restraint of the body is praiseworthy among the twice-born.
तपः समाश्रिता भीरु संशयः प्रतिभाति मे
O timid one, you have taken up austerity, but I sense some doubt within you.
सुभोगा भोगिताः काले व्रजन्ति स्थिरयौवने
Pleasures, once enjoyed in their time, depart even when youth remains steady.
रूपाभिजनमैश्वर्यं तच्च ते विद्यते बहु
Beauty, noble birth, and wealth—all these you possess in abundance.
चीनांशुकं परित्यज्य किं त्वं वल्कलधारिणी
Having cast aside your silk garments, why do you wear bark-cloth?
भिक्षवे कथयामास यथावत् सा हि नारद
To the mendicant, O Narada, she spoke as it truly was.
तं शृणुष्व त्वियं काली हरं भर्तारमिच्छति
Listen: this Kāli desires Hara as her husband.
विहस्य च महाहासं भिक्षुराह वचस्त्विदम्
Laughing with great mirth, the mendicant then spoke these words:
कथं करः पल्लवकोमलस्ते समेष्यते शार्वकरं ससर्पम्
How will your hand, soft as a tender shoot, unite with Shiva's hand, which bears a serpent?
त्वं चन्दनाक्ता स भस्मभूषितो न युक्तरूपं प्रतिभाति मे त्विदम्
You are anointed with sandalwood, he is adorned with ashes—this union does not seem fitting to me.
मा मैवं वद बिक्षो त्वं हरः सर्वगुणाधिकः
Do not speak so, mendicant; Hara surpasses all in virtues.